The shrinking F-35 production plan

This is a companion to yesterdays post about F-35 production.

I created the simplistic graphic below which takes a look at the F-35 production plan up until 2016. The year 2016 is important because this is the time-frame that some in Australian and Canadian defence claim that the F-35 will be "affordable" because buys will happen during "peak production". A claim that doesn't seem to have much proof to back it up.

This graphic starts with 2001. This is important because all the great hype on F-35 affordability was based on this plan. It would deliver an effective combat jet to the war-fighter and give a much needed boost to industry. It would be affordable because of the number built and production techniques.


F-35 assumptions on aircraft per-year production over the years

(click on image to make it larger)